Comics and graphic novel sales in comic stores surged 11.08% vs. the previous year in April, as two Action releases topped both the comics and graphic novel charts for the month, according to information released by Diamond Comic Distributors. The growth was primarily in comics, which were up 15.67% for the month. Graphic novels grew a more sedate 0.72% vs. April of last year.

Year-to-date sales improved substantially as a result of the strong Apirl. Comics and graphic novel sales through the first four months of 2018 were down 3.97%, with comics down 1.51% and graphic novels down 9.68%

Despite the fact that up-price Action releases from DC were at the tops of their respective charts, Marvel grew by a similar amount; the market share spread between the two was fairly typical for recent months, 5.2%.